Superconducting cable

ABSTRACT

A superconductive cable with a central superconductive conductor ( 1 ), a surrounding dielectric ( 3 ) and a surrounding superconductive return conductor ( 4 ). The central conductor ( 1 ) is formed from a single ribbon carrying superconductive material into a tube with a longitudinal extending slot ( 2 ) with the two edges of the ribbon abutting to each other. A ribbon ( 14 ) made of semiconductive material is wound around the central conductor ( 1 ) with at least one layer.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority from Euopean Patent Application No. 09 306 154.7, filed on Nov. 30, 2009, the entirty of which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a superconducting cable which has a central superconducting electrical conductor, a dielectric which surrounds the same and a superconducting return conductor which is arranged above the same.

2. Description of Related Art

A cable such as this is disclosed in EP 0 830 694 B1.

In modern technology, a superconducting cable has electrical conductors composed of a composite material which contains ceramic material that changes to the superconducting state at sufficiently low temperatures. The electrical direct-current resistance of a correspondingly constructed conductor is zero, if the coolant is adequate, provided that a specific current level is not exceeded. By way of example, suitable ceramic materials are materials doped with rare earths, which have become known by the name ReBCO (rare-earth barium-copper oxide), in particular including YBCO (yttrium-barium-copper oxide). Another of these superconducting materials is, for example, BSCCO (bismuth-strontium-calcium-copper oxide). Sufficiently low temperatures to change a material such as this to the superconducting state are, for example, between 67 K and 110 K. Suitable coolants are, for example, nitrogen, helium, neon and hydrogen, or mixtures of these substances.

DE 197 24 618 A1 describes a superconductor which consists of a corrugated metal tube, which is welded with a longitudinal bead and has a superconducting layer based on ceramic materials. The wall of the superconductor consists of a metallic support on which a metal foil, to which the superconducting layer is fitted, is applied by means of an adhesion promoter.

The initial cited EP 0 830 694 B1 discloses a superconducting alternating-current cable having a forward conductor and a return conductor, which is arranged concentrically with respect thereto. Both conductors are in the form of conductor arrangements composed of a plurality of conductor layers. In order to produce the forward conductor, a plurality of layers of superconducting individual conductors are wound at predetermined angles around a cylindrical support. A dielectric of sufficient radial size is applied to the finished forward conductor, around which the return conductor is arranged, by winding on a plurality of layers of superconducting individual conductors. The production of this known cable is complex. With corresponding use of material, it has relatively large radial dimensions which also require a correspondingly large cryostat, in which the cable is arranged for operation as a superconducting cable, and through which the coolant is passed.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY

The invention is based on the object of developing the cable described initially such that it can be produced more easily, with a simpler design.

This object is accordingly achieved by the central conductor being formed in a manner known per se from a ribbon, which is fitted with a superconducting material, running longitudinally with respect to a tube having a slot which runs in the axial direction, on which the two edges of the ribbon rest on one another, and in that at least one layer of a ribbon of semiconductive material is wound around the central conductor.

In this cable, the central conductor, which can be considered to be a superconducting forward conductor, consists of a single-layer tube which is formed, running longitudinally, from a ribbon to which the superconducting material is fitted. The tube is intrinsically sufficiently robust that no separate support is required for the central conductor. This itself consists only of one layer, which is governed by the thickness of the ribbon, thus allowing its radial dimensions to be kept small. This has an advantageous effect on the radial dimensions of the dielectric, which can be made smaller overall in comparison to known cables. The ribbon which surrounds the conductor and is composed of semiconductive material makes the conductor robust and avoids dielectric problems which could occur as a result of the edges that exist adjacent to the slot of the conductor. Including the return conductor, this results overall in a compact superconducting cable with relatively small radial dimensions, and correspondingly using less material. The dimensions of the cryostat which holds the cable can advantageously likewise be kept smaller than normal.

The return conductor can advantageously likewise be formed from a longitudinally running, ribbon, fitted with superconducting material, to form a single-layer tube. When the same is in the form of a closed tube, as a result of the welding of the slot running in the longitudinal direction, this achieves a further advantage of effective separation of the dielectric from coolant which is moving in the cryostat outside the return conductor. The pressure of an impregnation agent which is provided in the dielectric can thus be kept constant in a simple manner—independently of the pressure of the coolant—as a result of which the dielectric characteristics of the dielectric also remain constant.

ReBCO is preferably used as the superconducting material for the ribbon from which the central conductor and if possible a return conductor as well, are formed. It is particularly advantageous to use YBCO as one of these superconducting materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional illustration of a superconducting cable according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows, schematically, an arrangement for production of a conductor of the cable shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a section through FIG. 2 along the line III-III, illustrated enlarged.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the conductor, modified from that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The superconducting cable illustrated in the form of a section in FIG. 1 has a central conductor (forward conductor) 1 in the form of a single-layer tube. The conductor 1 is formed from a longitudinal running ribbon of predetermined width, which is fitted with superconducting material, to form a tube with a slot 2 which runs in the longitudinal direction and on which the two edges of the ribbon rest on one another. ReBCO is preferably used, and particularly advantageously YRCO, as the superconducting material. In order to make it robust, the conductor 1 is surrounded by a ribbon 14, which can be seen in FIG. 4, composed of semiconductive material, at least one layer of which is wound around the conductor 1. The ribbon 14 is not shown in FIG. 1, for the sake of clarity.

A dielectric 3 which is known per se and is surrounded by a superconducting return conductor 4 is arranged over the conductor 1, or over the ribbon 14 which is wound around it. The return conductor 4 may itself be designed as required. However, it is likewise advantageously in the form of a single-layer tube which is fitted with superconducting material and is formed such that it runs longitudinally with respect to a tube on whose slot 5, which runs in the longitudinal direction, the two edges of the ribbon rest on one another. The same superconducting materials as for the conductor 1 are advantageously used for the return conductor 4. The slot 5 in the return conductor 4 can advantageously be closed by welding, thus creating a closed tube. A tube such as this and as shown in FIG. 2 is produced, for example, as follows:

A ribbon 6 of predetermined width and fitted with superconducting material is drawn off from a spool 7 and is passed through a forming device 9 in the direction of the arrow 8, which forming device 9 is indicated schematically by two rollers 10 and 11. A tube with a slot running in the longitudinal direction is formed in the forming device, on which slot the two edges of the ribbon 6 rest on one another. The slot is closed in a welding unit 12 which follows in the pulling-off direction. This then results in a tube, as illustrated in FIG. 3, as the return conductor 4, which is closed by a weld bead 13.

A pressurized impregnation agent may be provided in the dielectric 3, using normal technology. The coolant, which is passed under pressure through the surrounding cryostat, can be used for this purpose, likewise using normal technology, with corresponding design of the return conductor 4. A pressure drop of the coolant or impregnation agent can adversely affect the dielectric characteristics of the dielectric 3 thus resulting in a flashover, destroying the same, between the conductor 1 and the return conductor 4. If the return conductor 4 is designed in the described manner as a closed tube for the superconducting cable as shown in FIG. 1, the dielectric 3 is closed on the outside. It is then possible to use an impregnation agent which is at a constant pressure, independently of the outer coolant, as a result of which the dielectric characteristics of the dielectric remain constant.

At least one superconducting cable 1 is intended to be arranged in the cryostat 2, leaving a cavity 8 free for a coolant to pass through, advantageously liquid nitrogen. The design of the superconducting cable 1 is known per se. This will therefore not be described in any more detail here. The superconducting cable 1 has at least one superconducting conductor 9, and a dielectric 10 surrounding it.

The superconducting cable 1 and the cryostat 2 are connected on the one hand electrically conductively and on the other hand in a gas-tight manner to the end closures 3 and 4. The electrical through-connection of the cable 1 and the gas-tight connection of the cryostat 2 are in principle known, and will therefore not be described in any more detail.

In the area of the end closure 4, the arrangement as a reservoir area 11 which contains the coolant for cooling the cable 1, a pump 12, a valve 13 and a pressure measurement instrument 14. A pressure measurement instrument 15 is arranged in the area of the end closure 3.

The pump 12 is connected on the one hand via a pipeline 16 to the reservoir area 11 and on the other hand via a pipeline 17 to the end closure 4 and, beyond this, to the free space 8 in the cryostat 2. The valve 13 is fitted in the pipeline 17. The pressure measurement instrument 14 is connected to the valve 13 via a pipeline 18, which is only indicated schematically here and to whose end a pressure-sensitive sensor is fitted, to the free space 8 in the cryostat 2 and, via an electrical line 19. In addition, it can also be electrically conductively connected to the pump 12. The pressure measurement instrument 15, which is arranged in the area of the end closure 3, is connected via a pipeline 20, which is once again only indicated schematically and at whose end a pressure-sensitive sensor is fitted, to the free space 8 in the cryostat 2 and, via an electrical line 21, to the valve 13. The pressure measurement instrument 15 can also be electrically conductively connected to the pump 12.

The electrical lines 19 and 21 are advantageously also used to connect the pressure measurement instruments 14 and 15 to the pump 12. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, they are connected to an electrical control unit 22, which is itself connected both to the valve 13 and to the pump 12 via electrical lines.

In principle, it is sufficient for the method and the arrangement according to the invention for the pressure of the coolant to be measured in the area of the end closure 3 because this is where the pressure is lowest, even when the arrangement is operating correctly. This means that the arrangement in principle requires only the pressure measurement instrument 15. However, since the cryostat 2 may also be damaged in the immediate vicinity of the end closure 4, the pressure measurement instrument 14 is advantageously also used.

The method according to the invention with an arrangement as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is carried out, for example, as described in the following text. In this case, it is first of all assumed that there is a pressure measurement instrument, specifically the pressure measurement instrument 15, only in the end closure 3.

Liquid nitrogen at a temperature of about 67 K is pumped as the coolant by means of the pump 12 into the cryostat 2, in the area of the end closure 4, to be precise, for example, at a pressure of about 20 bar. In this case, the valve 13 is open, that is to say nitrogen can pass through it. As soon as the cable 1 and its conductors 9 have been cooled to the temperature of, for example, about 67 K required to achieve superconductivity, the conductors 9 are connected to a voltage source, in order to transmit current. The nitrogen is moved at a speed of, for example, 0.1 m/s to 1.0 m/s through the cryostat 2 and is passed out at the end of the transmission path, in the end closure 3, in order to be cooled down again. The nitrogen pressure decreases as the distance from the feed points in the end closure 4 increases. By way of example, it should not fall below 15 bar. The pressure measurement instrument 15 is set appropriately.

If a leak occurs in the course of the transmission path in the cryostat 2, as a result of mechanical damage to the cryostat 2, nitrogen emerges through the leak out of the cryostat 2. In consequence, the pressure of the nitrogen in the cryostat 2 falls rapidly and suddenly. This is identified by the pressure measurement. instrument 15. As soon as the pressure is less than 15 bar, the valve 13 is closed by a signal which is sent from the pressure measurement instrument 15. At the same time, the pump 12 can likewise be switched off by an electrical signal from the pressure measurement instrument 15. This terminates the supply of nitrogen to the cryostat 2. At the same time, the cable 1 can be disconnected from the voltage source.

In addition, the soundness of the cryostat 2 can also be monitored to determine whether, for example, there is only damage to the outer tube 5 of the cryostat without a complete leak occurring in the cryostat 2. For this purpose, a sensor unit which reacts to cold can be fitted as a monitoring unit on the outside of the cryostat 2, over the entire length of the transmission path. The sensor unit may consist of a multiplicity of temperature sensors or else of at least one optical waveguide, which react or reacts to cold which emerges from the vacuum insulation 6 or from the outer tube 5 of the cryostat when damage occurs. The temperature sensors or the optical waveguide in which the cold produces a considerable increase in the vaporization can likewise be connected via electrical lines to the valve 13 and, if appropriate, to the pump 12. Their signals then likewise lead to closure of the valve 13 and to the pump 12 being switched off, without the pressure of the coolant in the cryostat 2 having fallen below its lower limit. 

1. Superconducting cable comprising: a central superconducting electrical conductor; a dielectric which surrounds the same; and a superconducting return conductor which is arranged above the same, wherein the central conductor is formed in a manner known per se from a ribbon, which is fitted with a superconducting material, running longitudinally with respect to a tube having a slot which runs in the axial direction, on which the two edges of the ribbon rest on one another, and in that at least one layer of a ribbon of semiconductive material is wound around the central conductor.
 2. Cable according to claim 1, wherein the return conductor is also formed from a ribbon fitted with a superconducting material running longitudinally with respect to a tube having a slot which runs in the axial direction, on which the two edges of the ribbon rest on one another.
 3. Cable according to claim 2, wherein the slot in the return conductor is closed by welding.
 4. Cable according to claim 1, wherein ReBCO is used as the superconducting material.
 5. Cable according to claim 4, wherein YBCO is used as the superconducting material. 